[nforcer06164]

I'm running a dual screen setup in Windows XP on a Dell E1505 laptop. Both screens are running at their maximum resolution of 1440x900 (laptop, primary) and 1280x1024 (external, secondary). I have extended desktop on so both screens display differently. When I close my laptop, the secondary screen switches to the primary screen.

I have many problems with this. Most prominent is the issue with icons on my primary display. I have many icons on my desktop and use them frequently. When I close the screen, the external display "squishes" my icons and when my laptop is re-opened, the "squished" icons do not reset. If I want to watch a movie by dragging a media player onto the secondary display, I cannot close my laptop as it will switch to the primary.

What I'd like to know is how I might be able to lock my primary display and not have the secondary screen switch without having to change a setting every time (like disabling the second before closing the laptop). My graphics card is an ATI Radeon X1300.